Property damage caused by storm may be eligible for compensation

If you have property damaged by Wednesday’s freezing rain, for instance, maybe you had a tree fall on your car, you may be eligible for damage compensation.

“Insurers are deploying every resource they have to make sure that they treat calls and claims as quickly as possible.” Pierre Babinsky, communications and public affairs director with the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

“If the damage is actually going through the walls so that it creates an opening through which rain or anything else can come in, then as soon as it’s safe to do so, you should block that area.”

This is exactly what Danny Stewart did after finding his car’s rear windshield completely shattered from a branch that broke during the ice storm.

“For the moment, I’m covering the opening to prevent water from entering the car,” said Stewart.

He isn’t the only one, many Montrealers dealing with the same problem.

“I heard it happen and then popped outside. And I was the lucky winner,” explained Francis Timmons, owner of a damaged car. “It’s got me pretty good. It got me pretty good.”

Cases where an insurer may not be able to help with debris removal, are: if the tree fell without creating damage to the owner’s property – which then becomes the owner’s sole responsibility to remove – or if it’s a city tree.

Babinsky recommends calling your municipality to remove the tree.

“If a tree falls on your vehicle or on your home and creates damage, then the removal of the tree would be covered by the insurance, as well as the repair. As long as you have the basic coverage for your home or a more comprehensive coverage for your vehicle.”

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RELATED:

• Quebec ice storm: Just under one million customers without power, man crushed by tree branch
• IN PHOTOS: Sights from Montreal following freezing rain storm
• Hydro-Québec: 80 per cent of those without power should have it back by midnight Friday

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The next step: documenting the loss.

“I would take those pictures and call my insurer and send them the picture. That will allow them to decide whether it’s something that could be dealt with through the phone or whether they need to send an adjuster. And they will give you advice on what to do with the tree and perhaps they may have people they can recommend for the removal.”

Home insurance does not only cover property damage or debris removal but Quebecers may also be compensated for food waste from the power outages.

“If there is a power outage and no damage, your home insurance may cover or usually will cover the contents of your fridge or a freezer. What’s important to do is, if at one point you can’t keep that in the house, just take a couple of pictures of the contents before you throw them out so that you have documentation for your insurer.”

Quebec Premier François Legault says he is currently looking into providing financial aid for those whose property was damaged. Something that was done with previous natural disasters in Quebec.

If you need help with an insurance claim or want to know more about what your insurance can do for you, you can go to the info assurance website.